What's it all about?
The National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (Youth Champs) is a celebration of youth brass banding across the UK. It brings together young musicians for a day of performance, learning, and inspiration. Whether you’re a player, conductor, parent, or supporter, there’s something to enjoy, from the buzz of stepping on stage to the joy of discovering new music and meeting fellow brass enthusiasts.
Youth Champs is organised by Brass Bands England (BBE) – the national body for brass bands. We create a safe, fair, and inspiring environment for all participants, while promoting excellence, creativity, and enjoyment in youth brass banding.
Why enter Youth Champs?
Bands who register benefit from much more than the performance itself:
- Performance opportunity – Play on a professional stage, with full event support and an appreciative audience.
- Adjudicator feedback – Receive constructive comments from experienced adjudicators to help your band grow.
- Listening opportunity – Hear other youth bands from across the country, picking up new repertoire ideas and inspiration.
- Networking – Meet other young players, bands, conductors, and supporters in a friendly, national setting.
- Workshops & learning sessions (TBC) – Extra opportunities for players to develop skills beyond the contest stage.
- Trade stands – Explore the latest instruments, music, and accessories from leading suppliers.
- Certificates and awards – Every band receives recognition for their performance, with trophies in competitive sections.
- Profile and publicity – Be featured in BBE and wider press coverage of the event.
- A day out for the whole band – An unforgettable shared experience that strengthens band identity and enthusiasm.
Contest Sections
In 2026, bands will perform in four different ‘Sections’:
This non-competitive section offers bands a friendly space to perform without the pressure of adjudication. Bands may present a 10-minute programme, extendable to 15 minutes with prior approval.
This section gives young musicians their first experience of competitive performance in a supportive and flexible environment.
The Challenge Section bridges the gap between entry-level competition and the elite Championship Section, offering bands the opportunity to take the next step in their musical journey.
For 2026, bands will perform one challenging work from a pre-selected list as part of a well-rounded programme, with the Section overall encouraging a gradual shift towards more traditional instrumentation and repertoire, while still allowing creativity through own-choice pieces.
From 2027 onwards, bands participating in this section will also be asked to feature at least one student-composed or arranged work, or one piece led by a student conductor.
With its focus on technical ability, imaginative programming and musical exploration, the Challenge Section truly lives up to its name – broadening horizons and pushing bands to reach new heights.
This top-level Section is aimed at youth bands prepared for a high standard of performance, providing a pathway to adult or university banding.
